Port Melbourne council OKs NextDC data centre

NextDC has received formal development approval to build its M1 data centre in Port Melbourne.

NextDC's Brisbane data centre sketch.

Preliminary construction works were due to start ahead of a formal construction agreement being signed with FDC Construction and Fitout.

Pacnet also used FDC for its Sydney data centre fitout.

NextDC signed non-binding agreements with FDC last month while it awaited development approval from the council.

NextDC said that engineering design consultancy Arup had been engaged to "lead the technical design of this facility."

The data centre builder has also started recruiting ahead of the Port Melbourne launch.

The project and facilities manager will be Glen Morcom, formerly building and electrical services manager at Crown Casino.

Business development staff were also in the final stages of recruitment, NextDC said.

The Melbourne data centre would have 6000 square metres of technical floor space.

The initial fitout was for 2000 square metres, of which anchor tenant HarbourMSP would take more than half in a seven-year lease.

NextDC recently pushed back the development schedule for the refurbishment of a Brisbane building to house its data centre there from March to late May.

The company was backed by $100 million funding raised from investors including seed capital supplied by founder Bevan Slattery.